Why Australia Needs a Radically New Defence Policy

Speaker

Venue

Auditorium, China in the World Building (188), Fellows Lane, ANU

Date

Thursday, 27 September, 2018 - 17:30 to 19:00

Australia faces a potentially dangerous strategic outlook, which requires radical changes to the country’s defence policy. For the first time since the Second World War, there is now the prospect of a potential adversary—with whom we do not share values—operating in our neighbourhood and capable of threatening us with high intensity conflict.

This public lecture chaired by Professor Toni Erskine, the Director of the Coral Bell School of Asia-Pacific Affairs, will discuss the following key defence policy issues:

Emeritus Professor Paul Dibb will analyse Australia’s deteriorating strategic outlook, how China is threatening our strategic space, why the US is becoming a less reliable ally, and why we need to become more self-reliant.

Honorary Professor Richard Brabin-Smith will focus on why defence warning time has now dramatically shortened because of the potential threat from China’s military capabilities, and will examine the consequent implications for the ADF.

Honorary Professor Brendan Sargeant will explain the crucial need for a much more imaginative strategic policy that strengthens Australia’s ability to handle defence crises. He will argue for a significantly increased defence budget.